Knockdown post construction



July 2, 1940- F. s. BEACH ET Al.

KNOCKDOWN POST CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 5, 1939 A iomeys Patented July 2, 1940 t t t UNITED sTATEs PATENT ortica! KNOCKDOWN POST CONSTRUCTIVON Fred S. Beach and Fitch H. Beach; Charlotte;

Mich.

Application February 3, 1939, Serial No. 254,511 Claims. (Cl. 189-28) This invention relates to that classification of that the upper end is substantially flush with the structures comprehending various styles and ground line A. In the arrangement shown, the `forms of posts and, as the title implies, We have sheetmetal socket comprises atv-shaped channel evolved and produced a sectional or composite member 'l having inturned flanges holding in l `constructionof` the so-called knockdown variety, place a cover or closure'plate 9. The lower end that is, one in which the post proper can be Of the post is suitably pointed as at Ill to facilitemporarily disconnected from its supporting tate penetrating the ground. The upper open page, r end of the socket or sheath is provided with an` `Although theimproved post construction may inturned lip` Il, this being bent from the plate 1,0 be utilized for supporting fence wires and the 9 and servingas a triangular closure to guard 10 like, it was primarily adopted for use as a soagainst earth and extraneous matter finding its called sign post and the outstanding object has Way down into the socket. Incidentally the been to provide an improved construction charnumeral Ill designates wings fastened to` the acterized by a sheath or socket to be embedded upper end portions of the post, these being suitll in the ground, the upper end of the socket being ably shaped to facilitate embedding and to mainl5 substantially level with the ground so that when tain the sheath securely anchored in theground. the post is detached therefrom a grass mowing l, Then too, as shown in Figure 2, on the interior machine may be driven across it without injury 0f the intermediate portion carried by the plate t0 the Cutting mada 9 is a spring pressed finger or latch I3. The free l Under present day provisions and adaptations, end of this is releasably engageable with an aper- 30 a sign post supported within the limits of a plot ture or keeper hole I4 in the lower end portion of grass becomes an obstruction adding to the of the post I5.` The post is a Sturdy angle iron diiiiculty of cutting the grass Within the Vicinity `and this adequately fits tightly in the substanofthe post. Under our arrangement, by lifting tiallytriangular Sheath. Ordinarily, as before '25 the post out from its` supporting socket, the cb- Stated, the pest is utilized t0 SllplOOrt a VehiCle 25 struction is temporarily removed, after which the CliTeCtiOn Sign, Signal 01 the like, lli. It is evipost can be properly replaced `to perform its dent hOWeVeLthat the 100St may serve in Adivers appointed supporting function. l Ways` Although the invention as disclosed in the `We call attention now to the detent or latch drawing is being constructed of sheet metal it releasing implement 0I1 t001 ll- ThiS iS a Simple 30 is obvious thatthe principle applies to concrete` L-shaped member having a finger grip i8 and constructionswood constructions and equivalent a depending Stem portion i9, which is slipped arrangements, l down into the post as shown in Figure 2. ,Biy`

Other features and advantages will become fOrCing it downwardly it Will Dry the latchloose Q5 more readily apparent from the following defrOIn the keeper hOle I4, thus releasing the post ai Scripton and the accompanying. illustrative I5 so that it can be` bodily Withdrawn from the drawing, t v sheath or socket into which it normally rits teler In the drawing: SCODieally- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the sectional The invention is utmost simplicity itself.V The im post as constructed in accordance with the prin method of construction and use would appear to if() ciples of the present improved invention. be ObVQllS from the drawing and preceding de-` Figure 2 is a view in vertical section with parts SCriptiOn- Under the Circumstances, a more in elevation, the post being broken on? and there elaborate description is considered unnecessary.

being shown a trip tool or implement inserted for AS before Stated, and aS evident from the the purpose of releasing the latch. claims, the question of material utilized in con- 45 Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of struction is immaterial. That is to say, we are the lower end of the post, that is, the portion hav` Concerned primarily With the particular coning an aperture forming a keeper for the spring struction and arrangement rather than precise latch or retaining linger. t shape, size and material. The claims are to be Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal sections on the COnStrlled accordingly. 50 lines 4 4 and 5-5 respectively of Figure l. We cla1m: l

Referring now to the drawing by distinguishing 1. In apost construction `of the class described,

reference numerals, the foundation or base unit a sheath adapted to be embedded in the ground, is denoted by the numeral 5 Breadly, this iS said sheath being substantially triangular in in the ferm 01 a Sheath 0r Seeket embedded S0 cross sectional form, the upper end of the sheath 55 beingprovided with a laterally projecting trian' gular closure lip, the apex of which is opposed to and spaced from the crotch portion of the sheath to denne a substantially V-shaped slot, a spring latch finger confined in said sheath and secured at one end to that wall of the sheath opposed to the V-shaped crotch portion, the free detent forming end of said latch finger being opposed to and in alignment with said crotch, and a post of V-shaped cross sectional form fitted telescopically in said sheath and having its vertex seated in `said, crotch, said vertex having an aperture therein forming a keeper hole into` which the detent end of said latch iingerreleasablysnaps.

2. In a knockdown post construction of the class described, a relatively stationary tubular sheath p-ointed at its lower end and provided at its upper end with a restrictedentrance` slot of a predetermined configuration, said sheath being adapted to be embedded in the ground so'that` its upper end is substantially flush withy the l'ground level, the body portion oi the sheath being` 3. In a knockdown highway safety signal post v construction yof `the class described, a relatively fixed vertically elongated tubular base adapted to be embedded in the ground with its upper end substantially flush with the surface of the ground, said upper end portion being substantiallyimperforate except for a post accommodation slot, the latter being restricted and of a'predetermined configuratioma'single spring latch wholly confined Within the limits of the imperforate body portion of said base at a point below the slot, one end of said latch'being fastened to aprecietermined wall portion and the other end 'being free and flexible, said latchl being accessible only by way of said slot, and a detachable post slidably keyed in said slot and depending into the basel in parallelism with the latch and corresponding in cross sectional shape to said slot, said post having a keeper seat for the free end of the latch, and the alignment of the latch and keeper seat being determined and maintained by the guiding coaction of the slot and companion post.

4. In a knockdown highway safety signal post construction of the class described, in combination, a sheath adapted to be embedded in the ground, said sheath being triangular in crosssectional form, the upper end of the sheath being formed with a substantially V-shaped slot the vertex of which is in matched `alignmentnwith the crotch of the V-shaped portion of said sheath,

the -body portion of the sheath being imperforate, a spring latch-finger secured at one end to the interior wall of the sheath opposed to said crotch and the free end of said latch-finger registering with the crotch, the entire latch-finger being conned Wholly in the imperforate body portion of the sheath, a detachable sign-carrying post passing through said slot and depending into the sheath, said post being V-shaped in cross-sectional form, the vertex thereof being aligned with and resting in said crotch and provided at a predetermined point with a keeper hole for releasable reception of the free end of said latch-nnger, and a component longitudinally elongated `latch releasing and holding member including a '2V-shaped body portion extending down through the slot with its vertex -portion seated in. the crotch portion of the post, said member being slidable in relation to the post and slidable in conjunction with the post, the body portion being imperforate, whereby to permit it to be slid between the latch-finger and post to dislodge the latch-nger from the keeper hole and to thereafter cover said keeper hole to permit unobstructed withdrawal of the post and said member unitarily while retaining the latch-finger in its released position.

5. A knockdown post construction of the class described comprising a shea-th V-shaped in cross- `section adapted to be embedded in the ground,

. that wall of the` sheath opposed to the V-shaped crotch portion, the free detent forming end of said latch nger being opposed to and in alignment with said crotch, and a post of V-shaped cross sectional form fitted telescopically in said sheath andhaving its Vertex seated in said crotch, said vertex having an aperture therein forming a keeper hole into which the detent end of said latch finger releasably rests, and a latch releasing member, V-shaped in cross-section having a hanged portion at its upper end and being of a length greater than the distance between the closure lip'of the sheath and the detent end of the spring latch nger, fitted telescopically within the V-shaped crotch portion of the post located in the sheath., whereby, upon exerting a downward pressure on the flanged portion of the latch releasing member, the lower end of said member will-contact the spring latch yfinger and force the detent endout' from the keeper hole of the post, thus enabling the post to be readily withdrawn from the sheath.

FRED S. BEACH. FITCH I-I.v BEACH. 

